Space heater and control means therefor



Dec. 28, 1948.' K. s. JENsoN 2,457,377

SPAGE HEATER AND CONTROL MEANS THEREFOR Filed May 9, 194e :s sheets-sheet 1 Dec. 28, 1948. K. s. JENsON SPACE HEATER AND CONTROL MEANS THEREFOR 3 ShetS-Sheet 2 Filed may s, 194ev IN VEN TOR. ka/ze/z Jefzafz, BY

Dec. 28, 1948. K s, JENSON 2,457,377

SPACE HEATER CONTROL MEANS THEREFOR Filed May 9, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I N V EN TOR. /zfzef Jawa/, BY y Patented Dec. 28, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPACE HEATER AND CONTROL MEANS THEREFOR Kenneth S. Jenson, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., assignor to Prentiss Wabers Products Co., Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application May 9, 1946, Serial No. 668,436

draft setting for al1 types of iiring thefparts being set so that the maximum` amount of air is admitted at all firing rates. 'Atjlo'wer v'firing rates an excess of air'is usually present. j, Since a burner is commonly operated ithroughout a considerable portion of the .time on the. lower firing rates, this maximum amount of air results in lowered eciency during-a considerable portion of its time of operation. 1t is necessary, however, to have the maximumquantities of air at the highest firing rate in order to provide ample heating capacity during the coldest weather. It is impractical to damper ofi all of the air ports in the burner, becausethisslows down the air velocity. This is particularly important in the lower portion of the burner-' The present inventioncontemplates a heater'.

provided with a novel mechanism for controlling the flow of air through all ofthe air ports except the lowermost thereof,V this mechanism being connected tothe fuelmetering'valve, so that as the flow of fuel is varied, the amount of air through said air ports is varied proportionately. In addition, the present invention contemplates a construction for synchronizing the dampering effect in the flue in response to changes in the firing rate.

Moreover, the present invention contemplates a heater in which any oil in the bottom of the burner may be readily burnt out.

An object of the present invention is to provide improved controls for a heater by which *the ratio of air to the fuel may be eiciently controlled.

A further object is to provide improved mechanism applicable to stoves as now known and used whereby the efficiency thereof may be improved.

A further object is to provide a heater having means for regulating in a novel and eflicient manner the amount of incoming air in proportion to the fuel delivered to said heater.

A further object is to provide an improved heater having means for dampering the diue in proportion to the fuel delivered to said heater.

A further object is to provide an improved I heater having combined means for controlling the flow of incoming air and the dampering of rf' the flue in proportion to the supply of fuel to said heater. 1.

A further object is to provide an improved heater having a novel connection between the metering valve and the damper, whereby improved performance may be accomplished.

A further object is to provide an improved space heaterwell adapted to meet the needs of' practical service. v

Further objects will appear as the description proceeds. y 1 v Referring to the drawings: Figure 1'is a vertical view of a heatembodying the principles ofthe present invention; Figure 2 -is a sectional view taken along the plane indicated by thev arrows 2-2 `of Figure l; Figure 3 is a sectional view taken'along the plane indicated by the arrows 3 3 ofFigure 1;

Figure 4 and Figure '5, are views illustrating corresponding positions ofthe metering valve of the heater and tliedlamperl o f said heater; Figure elsa horizontalcrossfsectional view of a modiiication; andfj., 5.

Figures?,v 8 'and 9 are, i n ragnientary views illustrating the relationshipfthe damper `tothe associated portions'of the heater vcorresponding to denlte positions of the metering valve.

Referring first to Figures 1 vand 2, thevcasing of a space heateris indicated by the numeral I0. Mounted within said casing III is the-.heating element or heating drumI I. ','Said heating element II is of smallerdinfien'sion'sthan'the casing I0, whereby a heatingspace' I2 is providedexteriorly of the elementi ".The bottom portion ofthe casing I0 is proviA dvwith apertures I3-I3 through which air isdrawn intov the space I2. Such air is heated by the heating element I I as it progresses,througnthe-space I2, and is discharged through the perforated grille I4 at the topofthecasing. j

Disposed adjacent to the bottom of the heating element I I is a burner I5, which is illustrated as being of the pot type. said burner I5 being provided at its bottom portion with the fuel feed tube I6. Said burner I5 preferably has a shallow` bottom I'I, said bottom being almost flat, whereby fuel which enters the burner I5 through the tube I6 will spread out to be readily vaporized by the radiant heat of the flame at the top of the burner I'5.

The heating element II is provided with a perforated bottom I8 for admission of air from the casing I0 to the region of the bottom of the burner I5. The numeral IBa indicates a control aperture in said bottom I8. The burner I5 is of uns?? less diameter than the adjacent portion of the element II. and an annular diaphragm I! is provided between said burner I5 and said element Il dividing the annular space between said burner I5 and the element II into an annular region 28 below said diaphragm I8 and the annular region 2l above said diaphragm Il. Said diaphragm I8 is provided with an aperture controlled by the butterfly valve 22, which valve is controlled by linkage, to be described presently, responsive to a fuel metering valve. y A

The burner I5 at the region thereof below the diaphragm I9 is provided with a plurality of ports 23-22. Above the diaphragm I8, said burner I5 ls provided with a plurality of ports 24-2L Air entering through the perforated bottom I8 of vthe heating element II may pass through the 'ports 22-23 into the lower portion of the burner I5. Air through the perforated bottom I8 may pass through the opening in the diaphragm I8 controlled by the valve `22, which air may enter the top portion of the burner I5 through the ports 2l-24. Adjacent to the top of the burner I5 is an upper diaphragm 25, which may be imperforate and may direct secondary air through the ports 24a-26a to the lcombustible mixture ad'- jacent to the top of the burner I5. Flame issuing from the top of the burner I5 will discharge its heat to the wall of the heating element II. A flue 2.6 communicates with .the interior oi4 the element II adjacent to the top portion thereof, which flue conducts gases from said element Il through the rear wall of the casing I8. communicated to the wall of the element il will be transmitted to the air in the heating space I2 which is delivered through the grille I4 at the top of the casing I8.

The flue 26 is-provided with a damper 21. The damper 21 is illustrated as having a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the flue 26. For reasons which will be explained hereinafter, there is a decided advantage in permitting the flow of combustion gases past the damper 21 at all times.

The numeral 28 indicates a fuel metering valve having a handle 28. Said handle 28 is connected to a rod 30, which extends to a region adjacent to the top of the casing I0. The top of said rod is provided with a knob 3l, whereby the fuel metering valve 28 may be controlled, if preferred,

at the top of the casing I8. Said rod 80 is connected to the valve 22 for controlling the opening in diaphragm I9 and to the damper 21 for controlling the flue 26. The connection between the md80 and the valve 22 is through an arm 32 jointed to the connecting rod 33, which in turn is jointed to a crank 36 secured to the shaft 35 of the valve 22. The connection of the rod 30 to the damper 21' is through an arm 36 connected to said rod 38, which arm 36 is jointed to a connecting rod 31, the other end of which is jointed to a crank 38 fast to the shaft 39 of the damper 21. When the rod 30 is turned either by means of the handle 28 or the knob 3| to meter the ow of fuel through the valve 28, corresponding rotative movements will be communicated to the valve 22 in the diaphragm I8 and to the damper 21 in the flue 26, whereby the supply of air through the valve 22 and the withdrawal of spent gases past the damper 21 will be increased or decreased substantially in proportion to increases and de` creases in the supply of fuel.

As stated hereinabove, the damper 21 is ofi-less diameter than the flue 26, permitting the flow of combustion gases past said damper even when said damper is located in a position diametrically Heat across the flue 26. Moreover, the metering valve 2l is so connected with the damper 21 that when the valve 28 is in its oil-position, or closed position, the damper 21 is definitely askew of the flue 28; that is, in a definitely open position.

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate certain preferred relationships between the metering valve 28 and the damper 21. Figure 4 vshows that the handle 28, which is connected to the rod 38 leading to the metering valve 28. may have definite settings as follows: position 0 indicating the off-position or closed position of the valve, and positions I, 2, 3, l, 5 and indicating progressively increased openings of said valve. Figure 5 indicates the positions of the damper 21 corresponding to the vpositions of the handle 29 of the metering valve.

As shown in Figure 5, when the metering valve is in oil-position; that is, the position completely stopping the flow of oil from the valve, the damper will be slightly askew from its diametrical position. When the handle 29 is in position I. the

damper 21 will be disposed diametrically across the flue 25 to provide the maximum restricting effect upon the flow of combustion gases through the flue 28 though, as indicated above, even in this position, the damper 21 permits the iiow of combustion gases through the flue 26.

As the metering valve 28 is progressively opened, the damper 21 is moved progressively through an arc to its maximum open position as indicated at position 6 in Figure 6.

Damper 22 will move with damper 21 when the handle 28 of the valve 28 is operated. In the offposition of the metering valve 28, the damper 22 will preferably be in slightly open position just as the damper 21 will be slightly displaced from its maximum closing position. This will permit a certain amount of air to enter the pot burner I5 thmugh the apertures 24-24 mingling with the products of combustion resulting from the passage of air through the apertures 2323. 'Ihe passage of air, under these circumstances, through the apertures 24-24 will perhaps allow a combustion of the fuel collected in the bottom of the burner I5 at a higher rate than necessary, but this will do no harm. In explanation, it may be stated after the metering valve 28 has been closed, the accumulation of fuel in the bottom of the pot burner I5 will be consumed by combustion with an adequate amount of air thereby avoiding smoking, such as might result from lack of combustion air.

It will be noted that when the damper 21 is in its maximum closing position, that is, in its position diametrical with respect to the flue 26, air can still pass through the ports 23--23. This is advantageous for the reason that complete stoppage of the products of combustion should 'not take place; otherwise, the fire in the pot burner I5 would be extinguished for lack of air. When the dampers 21 and 22 are in their positions to provide maximum dampering functions (position I, Figure 5), the metering valve 28 is in position for permitting a ow of oil in proportion to the air supplied by the ports 23-23. When the fuel valve 28 is in its oil-position or closed position; that is, the position Il, the valves 21 and 22 have passed theirmaximum closing positions and are slightly open permitting the burning out of any fuel which has accumulated in the pot burner I5.

'I'he valve 22, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, is simple and operates successfully in practice to avoid undue disturbance of the symmetry of the flame in the burner I 5, but does not distribute the air throughout the annular region 2| surrounding the burner above the diaphragm I9 with the uniformity afforded by this construction illustratedin Figure 6.

To provide more even distribution through said annular region 2|, the construction illustrated in Figure 6 may be used. .llccordinf'y to the con-4` struction of Figure 6, the diaphragm I9 is provided with a plurality Ofapertures 40, which may be symmetrically spaced about the axis of the burner I5. Said apertures 4U may be controlled simultaneously by means of an annular valve 4I provided with a plurality of apertures 42. Said annular valve 4I carries a plurality of rollers 43 adapted to engage the interior wall of the heating element II, whereby to minimize any possibility of jamming of the annular valve 4I. Said valve 4| is adapted to be oscillated by means of the arm 44 projecting radially therefrom, which arm 44 extends through an aperture 45 in the heating element II. Said arm 44 is jointed to the connecting rod 45. jointed to the arm 46 secured to the vertical rod 30.

The construction illustrated in Figure 6 has the further advantage that when the damper 21 is in partly closed position, corresponding to the olf-position or closed position of the metering valve 28, the openings 42 will remain closed as illustrated in Figure 7. When the metering valve 28 is moved to position No. 1, the said openings 42 will be closed; at position 2 of the metering valve 28 the aperture 42 will be partly open; and at position 3 of the metering valve the aperture 4'2 will be opened still further, and so on up to position 6. Therefore, by reason of the damper construction illustrated in Figure 6, not only is uniformity of distribution of the air about the burner I5 improved, but the further advantage is had that the apertures l2-42, being closed when the metering valve is in off-position, will not add to the ow of air for combustion through the apertures 24--24to cause the burning of the fuel in the bottom of the burner I5 at too high a rate.

The present invention, according to either of the illustrated embodiments thereof, has the decided advantage over certain prior structures in that the air 4entering the burner |5 through the ports 24-24 is distributed peripherally with sufficient uniformity so that the symmetry of the flame within the burner I5 is preserved.

It will be noted that the valve cooperating with the diaphragm `I9 in either of the modifications above described controls the flow of combustion air through the ports 24-24 above said diaphragm I9 but does not control the ports 23 below said diaphragm. Therefore, closing movement of said valve does not serve to reduce the velocity of air entering the lowermost ports in the burner I5.

As explained above, operation of the rod 30 which controls the -metering of fuel through the valve 28 is accompanied by a corresponding operation of the valve cooperating with the diaphragm I9 and with the damper 21 in the iiue 26. By using the two controls referred to, greater efficiency can be obtained than with either one taken by itself.

In practical operation it will probably be preferred to use a flue 2B of a size larger than is absolutely necessary for the highest fire operation. A slight closing of the damper 21 under these circumstances will'have no adverse effect on the spent gases escaping through the flue. However, when the burner I5 is operated at the lower stages of fire, the damper 21 acts very readily to check the draft pull and to reduce the velocity of the air entering the ports of the burner I5 to produce a balanced flame condition.

Though certain preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, many modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. It is intended to cover all such modifications that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In a space heater, in combination, a heating drum, a burner disposed interiorly of said heating drum and providmg with said heating drum a passageway for combustion air, a diaphragm located in said last mentioned passageway, said burner having peripherally spaced air inlet ports communicating with said passageway on one side of said diaphragm and other Vperipherally spaced inlet ports communicating with said passageway on the otherl side of said diaphragm, a flue for conducting gases from said drum to the exterior of said casing, valve means for controlling the passage of combustion air through said diaphragm, damper means for said flue, a valve for metering the flow of fuel to said burner, means for operating said metering valve and means connecting said metering valve to said valve means and to said damper whereby said valve means and :fad damper move in unison with said metering valve, said damper being in a position to provide less than its maximum dampering effect when sad valve is in closed position.

2. In a space heater, in combination, a heating crum, a burner disposed interiorly of said heating drum and providing with said heating drum a passageway for combustion air, a diaphragm located in said last mentioned passageway, said burner having peripherally spaced air inlet ports communicating with said passageway on one side of said diaphragm and other peripherally spaced inlet ports communicating with said passageway on the other side of said diaphragm, a flue for conducting gases from said drum to the exterior of said casing, valve means for controlling the passage of combustion air through said diaphragm, damper means for said flue, a valve for metering the flow of fuel to said burner, means for operating said metering valve and means connecting said metering valve to said Valve means and to said damper whereby said valve means and raid damper move in unison with said metering valve, said damper means in its maximum dampering position leaving space for the passage through said flue of spent gases, said damper means being in a position to provide less than its maximum dampering effect when said valveis in Aclosed position.

3. In a space heater, in combination, a heating drum, a pot-type burner locatedinteriorly of said drum and providing with said drum a passageway for combustion air, a perforated diaphragm in said passageway, said burner having peripherally spaced air inlet ports located on one side of said diaphragm and other peripherally spaced inlet ports located on the other sideof said diaphragm, means for admitting fuel to said burner, valve means for controlling the ow of said fuel and other valve means connected to move with said first mentioned valve means-for controlling the ow of air through said diaphragm, a flue for conducting spent gases from said heating drum, a damper in said flue and means connecting said damper to move in proportion to movement of said valve means, said damper being in a position to provide less than its maximum dampering eilect when 'said valve means is in closed position.

4. In a space heater, in combination, a heating drum, a burner for said drum, said burner and said drum having a space therebetween for the passage of air exteriorly of said burner to the top of said burner, said burner having peripherally spaced inlet ports for combustion air at different levels above the bottom thereof, a ue for conducting spent gases from said heating element to the exterior of said drum, a valve for controlling the flow of fuel to said burner. means for operating said valve and means responsive to operation of said valve for controlling the flow of combustion air through the uppermost of the ports'i.; said burner and the flow of spent gases through said flue, said means for controlling the flow of spent gases through said flue, being operative to control said flow to permit more than minimum fiow when said valve is in closed position.

5. In a space heater, in combination, a heating drum, a burner for said drum, said burner and said drum having a space therebetween for the passage of air exteriorly of said burner to the top of said burner, said burner having peripherally spaced inlet ports for combustion air at different levels above the bottom thereof, a flue for conducting spent gases from said heating element to the exterior of said drum, a valve for controlling the flow of fuel to said burner, means for operating said valve and means responsive to operation of said valve for dampering said flue in proportion to opening and closing movements of said valve, said dampering means being in a position to provide less than its maximum dampering eiect when said valve is in closed position.

6. In a space heater, in combination, a heating drum, a burner for said drum, said burner and said drum having a space therebetween for the passage of air exteriorly of said burner to the top of said burner, said burner having peripherally spaced inlet ports for combustion air at different levels above the bottom thereof, a flue for conducting spent gases from said heating element to the exterior of said drum, a valve for controlling the flow of fuel to said burner. means for operating said valve and means responsive proportionally to opening and closing movements of said valve for controlling the flow of combustion air through the uppermost of the ports in said burner and for dampering said ue, said dampering means being in a position to provide less than its maximum dampering effect when said valve is in closed position.

'1. In a space heater. in combination. a heating drum, a burnerfor said drum, said burner and exterior of said drum, a valve for controlling the flow of fuel to said burner, means for operating said valve and a damper for said ue, said damper in its maximum dampering position permitting the passage of spent gases through said .o Number ilue, means connecting said valve to said damper whereby said damper will move proportionally to opening and closing movements of said valve, said damper being in a position to provide less than its maximum dampering effect when said valve is in closed position.

8. In a space heater, in combination, a heating drum, a, burner for said drum, said burner and said drum having a space therebetween for the passage of air exteriorly of said burner to the top of said burner, said burner having peripherally spaced inlet ports for combustion air at different levels about the bottom thereof. a. flue for conducting spent gases from said burner to the exterior of said drum, a valve for controlling the flow of fuel to said burner, means for operating said valve, a damper for said flue, said damper in its maximum dampering position permitting the passage of spent gases through said flue, means connecting said valve to said damper whereby said damper will move proportionally to opening and closing movements of said valve, said damper being in a position to provide less than its maximum dampering effect when said valve is in closed position, and means operating proportionally to opening and closing movements of said valve for controlling the supply of combustlon air to said ports at the upper levels thereof.

KENNETH S. JENSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the i'lle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Re. 15,000 Stafford Dec. '7, 1920 2,204,694 Piehl June 18, 1940 2,257,834 Behee Oct. 7, 1941 2,313,568 Miller Mar. 9, 1943 2,346,815 Breese Apr. 18, 1944 2,357,587 Hammell Sept. 5, 1944 

